The General Eliott, Uxbridge

This tidy canal side pub has an opened out interior that's very different to how I remember it from my one previous visit to Uxbridge, when I'm fairly sure it was a proper two bar boozer. Nowadays, it's a single space with carpeted floors except for a few quarry stone tiles around the bar area. The walls have been painted in neutral shades with some exposed brickwork around the right-hand side fireplace. Opening the pub out has created a peninsula servery with a smart panelled counter and plain bar back lined with blackboards detailing the various food options. At one end of the bar was a communal cheeseboard and crackers, although I'm unsure if this is a regular feature or just something they'd put on for England's Euro 2024 quarter final fixture which they were televising that evening. High tables and stools can be found to the front left, giving way to banquettes in the front right corner and tub chairs in front of the end fireplace. Tables and chairs round out the seating options through the entire rear part of the pub, where you can find another fireplace in the rear left corner. Random photos and paintings have been put on display, a spoon collection hangs off the mantlepiece of one of the fireplaces and a couple of hospitality type certificates are also on show. There were three screens showing the aforementioned England game, each with the sound on and most chairs positioned to view the game. A door to the rear leads out to a good canal side decked seating area - ideal on a warm afternoon, but also with a handy shelter for wetter days. Three ales could be found on the bar - St Austell Tribute (£5.10 a pint), Greene King False Nine and Fullers London Pride. I stayed for the second half, extra time and penalties in the England game, so got through a few pints of Tribute, which were all in good condition. The staff seemed friendly and the place felt a lot more chilled than in the town centre pubs that were also showing the match. I don't usually like it when pubs are opened out like this, but I thought this might be a rare exception, transforming a traditional, but rather dark and dingy, empty boozer into a bright, spacious contemporary pub which attracts a mixed crown and still has enough about it to satisfy pub purists. I'm glad I ditched the town centre pubs to watch the game here and would make this my first port of call when I'm next out this way. Date of visit - 6th July 2024

Nice pub just outside the town centre alongside the canal. Mad Goose, London Pride and Tribute on when I called. I went for the Mad Goose which was fine. I would happily call again.

A small brass plate under a print of the eponymous general helpfully informs us that this pub is named after Augustus Eliott, Baron Heathfield 1717-1790 - Defender of Gibraltar. Defending it against the Spanish I suppose. There's a peninsular bar on the left hand side of the room; some flagstone flooring near the bar; a bit of a carpetted area on the right; with some bare boards at the back. Furnishings seem to be exclusively banquettes and normal tables and chairs, and there's a large brick built fireplace on the right with an exposed brickwork breast (oo-er!). A door at the back leads out to some outside seating by the canal - it seems just about every pub near here has a waterside location. This pub had three ales on - London Pride, Bombardier Gold, and Adnam's Ghost Ship (£1.75 a half). The illustrated menu features mainly pub grub - as an example the General Burger, plus chips and coleslaw, is £6.95. A board outside advertised lunchtime deals, with the sandwiches at £2 a pop including chips looking a good bet. Live entertainment seems to be on every Friday and Saturday. This is probably the the best of the three canalside pubs along this stretch of the road; it certainly had the best ale selection on my Friday afternoon visit, even though three on, including a couple of the usual suspects, certainly isn't exceptional. It struck me as a pub the locals would use for a drink. I quite liked it.

One of three canalside pubs to the west of Uxbridge town centre, and the least unattractive of a rather sad-looking lot. However, the pub is more interesting inside but still in definite need of some refurbishment. The central 'U'-shaped bar separates the two seating areas, with the far end of the side facing the canal being used for live music (each Friday and Saturday). The exterior and interior signage indicates plenty of other regular events being held too. Substantial patio area, part-covered, between the building and the canal. A bank of four handpumps can be found on each side of the bar, with the operational ones offering Pride, Doom Bar and Spitfire (not in the freshest condition unfortunately). Reasonably busy on a Sunday lunchtime for the roast lunches, but we tried a couple of other menu items which were tasty and excellent value.